Pair of aces clash for sprint spoils

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Racegoers are in for a real treat at Sha Tin tomorrow in the sixth event, the final leg of the Triple Trio, with the clash of Danzighill and Rising Glory.

Danzighill won both of his starts last season culminating with success in the Happy Valley Vase. He has not had a hard preparation this time in, certainly not as solid as he did before making a winning debut late last season, but he has answered every question that trainer Wylie Wong has asked him.

The son of Danehill has also come back into work looking to have made good physical progress during the summer. By the end of last season he was more than a touch on the light side, but now he is a nuggety thing and he has the most beautiful economy of movement about him. His stride flows and he should be suited by the way tomorrow's race is likely to be run. There is plenty of pace in this 1,200-metre affair and Danzighill is likely to get back to mid-division before he comes powering home under Piere Strydom.

And there are few better jockeys at coming from behind than the South African ace as he showed on Basic Instinct last weekend. Rising Glory is clearly the form pick on the few meetings run so far, having scooted home at Happy Valley on his reappearance which was only his second lifetime start. He has more to do tomorrow and must jump from barrier 14.

That is by no means insurmountable and he must have an excellent chance of running in the tierce, but in terms of a banker, preference is just for Danzighill.

The one slight worry about Rising Glory is that he does go pretty hard in his work and because of that there has to be a doubt as to how much he will find off the bit. In contrast, Danzighill is a very relaxed individual who just ambles along but keeps finding and finding.

He will stay farther than 1,200 metres in time but that distance is far enough first time out. The other main contender is probably the Brian Kan-trained Saint Tak who is rippling fit. He should be suited by the 1,200-metre trip, especially if he can be settled just in behind the pace which is likely to be set by Orlando Magic or Splendid Timing. Given he jumps from barrier four, Saint Tak should have a decent position throughout under Felix Coetzee. The third event is a typically tricky handicap affair. The main banker candidate could well Kan's Optic Fashion who has an excellent attitude to his races.

He is a very genuine customer and would surely have run second last time, but for being checked. The 1,400-metre trip is ideal. Belarus is likely to come in for plenty of support and has worked well enough for this to warrant inclusion in Triple Trio wagers. Similarly, Happy Occasions who will be ridden by the in-form Douglas Whyte, and the Tony Cruz-trained newcomer Touchwood who was noted making significant ground in a recent trial.

But it is the enigmatic Danish Heights who could be the main danger to Optic Fashion as Danish Heights was possibly committed too far from home last time out. Whyte also has a top chance in the middle leg of the Triple Trio, the American Club Challenge Cup, when he partners Polar Star for Wong Tang-ping who has his team very well forward.

Polar Star has been working pleasingly and has a touch of quality about him when he is right.